dreaming of beaches

Remember this little beach boy?

Look at the attitude in that run. Kicking up the sand, shoulders back, chest forward. Always ready for action. Even on a early evening when he was feeling under the weather, he still had bags more energy than most. Much more than me anyway. I would have loved to capture him splashing about in the sea but his first few steps into the ocean were undone by a naughty wave that caught him unawares. But never mind, because his annoyance at the water gave me this gorgeous pout.

So sea was out of the question. How about a little late dinner? No can do I’m afraid. The seagulls got that.

Ok then. What else do you get at the beach? Oh yes. Sand.

Here he is discovering it. Great fistfuls of it. I think in the moment below an awareness passed between us. I looked in his little angelic face and saw the seed of an idea. He looked in mine and saw fear. Can’t you see him realise that this sand stuff can be picked up and thrown?

A little lightbulb hovering above his head wouldn’t be out of place.

He’s a good boy though. Once he’d thrown the sand, he wanted to clean it up. He wanted to clean the beach of sand. And that is a very tiring business.

So the sun really starts to dip. It gets chillier. And this gorgeous ball of energy and cuteness finally succumbs. It’s time to go home and stop somewhere to replace what the seagulls pinched.

To say I enjoyed this session is an understatement. I love the beach – it is one of my very favourite places to be. Not the crowded type – but the end of the day, smell of a bbq, hazy sunshine type of beach. So if you love it too and want to capture something beautiful in your family portraits, just shout. I know this great place where the beach is sandy and the water is cool.